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0. A. MAYRHOFBR.

ELECTRIC PNEUMATIC CLOCK SYSTEM. Ne. 278,159. Patented Mew-y 22,1883.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet vEL C. A. -MAYRHOFER- ELECTRIC PNBUMATIC CLOCK SYSTEM.

No. 278,159. Patented May 22,1883.

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C. A. MAYRHOPER.

, ELEGTRIG'PNEUMATIG CLOCK SYSTEM.

No. 278,159. Patented May Z2, 1883. Y

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BLEGTRIG PNBUMATIG GLOGK SYSTEM I No. 278,159. Patented May 22,1883.

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` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.CARL A. MAYRHOFER, OF PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND WILLY OTTO, OF SAME PLACE.

ELCTRIC PNEUMATIC lCLOCK SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part ot' Letters Patent No. 278,159, dated May 22, 1883.

Application filed September 1,1882. (No model.) Patented in Belgium October 13, 18:41, No. 55,958; in France October 14, 1881, No. 145,306; in Austria-Hungary October l5, 1881, and December 11, 1381; in Germany October 2l, 1881, and in England October 3l,

1881, Nit-1,753.

' HOHER, ot' Paris, in the Republic of France,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electro-Pneumatic Clock Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference toan improved electro-pneumatic clock system for transmitting the correct'time from a normal clock to a *number of district-clocks, and thence to a number of secondary clocks in di'erent parts ot' a city, the normal clock being regulated from au astronomical observatory, and the district- -cloclrs electrically from the normal clock,

while the secondary clocks are wound up and regulated-by impulses of compressed air which are transmitted at certain intervals ot' time, bythe action ot' the district-clocks, from a compressed-air reservoir to the secondary clocks.

The invention consists ot a normal clock which is connected by an electric distributer with an electro-pneumatic relay and with any desired number of district-clocks. From the latter pneumatic impulses are transmitted at certain intervals of time to a three-Way cock and to all the secondary clocks of a district, the compressed air heilig forced from a compressed-air reservoir througha system of distributing-pipes to any number of secondary clocks, where -it actuates suitable winding-up and regulating appliances. The electro-pneumatic relay actuates at certain fixed intervals ot' time the regulating devices ot' the districtclocks, which are thereby kept uniform with the normal clock.

The different appliances for correcting thc normal, district, and secondary clocks and for winding up the latter will be more fully described hereinafter, and finally be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which fully illustrate my invention, Figures l to 6, Sheet 1, represent plan views ot' the different apparatus which compose my improved electro pneumatic clock system, these parts being brought closely together to show their connection with each other, Fig. 1 representing a plan view ot' the normal clock, Fig. 2, ot' the electric distributor; Fig. 3, of the electro-pneumatic relay; Fig. 4,0t'a district-clock; Fig. 5, ofthe three-way cock for supplying the pneu` matic impulses from the air-reservoir to the secondary clocks, and'Fig. 6 of the second-V ary clock. Figs. lL to 6a, Sheets 2 and 3, represent side elevations, respectively, ot' the same parts shown in Figs. 1 to 6. Figs. 7, S, and 9 represent detail views of the three-way cock; and Figs. 10 and 1l detail views ot' the regulating appliances ot' the normal clock shown in Figs. 1 and la. Figs. 12 and 13 are detail views of the regulating appliances ot' the district-clocks, said regulating appliances heilig all operated by compressed air; and Figs. 14,15, 16, and 17 represent, respectively, a perspective View, a side elevation, partly in section through the aircylinder,a vertical longitudinal section, and a plan View of the electric distributer ouan enlarged scale, whereby at certain periods of time electricy pulsations are transmitted from the normal clock tothedilterent district-clocks and electropneumatic relays.

Similar letters ot' reference indicate corresponding parts.

The normal clock shown in Figs. 1v and l is a strong and well-built clock, which is provided on the arbor ot' the quarter-minute wheel with a disk, 00, having a projection, or', that presses at each unlocking of the clock, which may take place hourly, upon a lever, S, pivoted to an upright standard at S', and having its other extremity in engagement with a weighted arm, S, which it rocks and causes to open a three-way coclr,-A. By the opening of the three-Way cock A compressed air is admitted by pipe t from a compressed-air reservoir to pipe a', which conducts it to the aircylinder or bellows B of the electrical distributer shown in Figs. 2, 2*,14, and 15,'so that the lever b ot' the same is raisedand thereby the sOv tanccot' one or more teeth by rmeans ot' the actuating-pawls ot` the lever l). Aspring-contact drum, O, ot' the distributcr is -thereby wound up, and also intermittent rotary motion imparted to a shaft, carrying a contact-spring, s, Fig. 16. 1f this operation has taken place a certain number of timesfor instance, twentyi`our times-the springactuated drum is released in the following manner: A tooth, b3 (see Figs. 14 and 16,) of a disk, r', keyed to the shaft of the contact-spring s, presses upon the heel sx of an oscillating fork, s', so that the long contact-arm of the sume clears lever s2, causing the same to drop and to withdraw a pin, s3, at its opposite end from a gear-wheel, s,in mesh with the spring-drum C. The drum C is thereby set free to i'ollow themotion of its spring, which imparts rotary motion to the same, so as to send by the successive contacts of' projecting studs 35, arranged spirally upon the surface ot' the drum, with a series ot' contact-springs,j,electrie impulses over thebindingposts 1 to 10, and the line-wires toan electropneumatic relay of the dit'ierent districtclocks, which relay then takes up the work and starts the pneumatic impulses required i'or working the secondary clocks'ot' all the district systems.

As the electric impulses have to bc sent only at infrequent intervals of time-say once in twenty-four hours-it is obvious that no special connecting-lines are necessary, and that already existing lines, whether they be used i'or telegraph, telephone, irealarm, or other purposes, can be employed without interfering with the regular functioning ofthe same. lf, i'or instance,telegraph or other wires are used, a battery, q, is employed, ot' which one pole is connected to the earth, while the other is connected to the binding-post 12 of the electric distributer, Figs. 2 and 2, where it is electrically connected with the shai't ot the disk r and contactspring s. The contact-spring s is always in contact with a diskd), placed on the same arbor, which is again connected with an intermediate contact-rod,p, Fig. 2, Sheet l, vwhich forms the joint connection with the battery. Now, it' any onepresses upon the pushbutton 10, which closes the circuit between the district-clock and the distributer by but ton l0 making contact with the intermediate contact-rod, 1J, the course ot' the current (indicated as follows on Sheet 1, is as follows: battery q ot' Fig'. 2, binding-post 12, supporting-standard and contact-disk 9*, shai't`and contact-spring s, to disk p, to binding-post 11, to contact-rod 1)', and from the same over line-wire 1() to the district-clock, (shown in Fig. 4,) where the current passes into the arbor )N ot' the same, from arbor )V through contact-spring t, which makes contact with rim u, through rim u, thence to the telegraph-oihee, and to the earth.

The metal disk p ot' the distributer, as well as therini u of the district-clock, are provided 'at one point of their circumference with a recess, which 4is filled by a small insulated contact-piece, e, through which the circuit to relay, Fig. 3, is completed through line 10, when contact-spring t closes the circuit through it and cuts out the earth through rim a. This eontact-sprin g t, carried round by the mechanism of the clock, constantly maintains its con tact with the rim a, and thus completes the circuit to earth, except where rim u is interrupted by the insulated piles in which is the contact c. This contact c, insulated from the rim u, is also in the path of the revolving contact-sprl ng t, and serves to establish a different circuit from the earth-circuit, which is broken by the passage of spring t over the insulated interruption in the rinfr. (Seo Figs. 4 and 4.) At certain xed periods oi' time-for instance, every twenty-four hours-the contact-spring s ofthe distributer cuts out wire 11 and bar p by passing over the insulated plate 1), Fig. 16, oi' disk p, and the contact-spring t ot' the disvfriet-clock breaks circuit through rim lul and makes contact with insulated contact fu. This is the time (about eight or nine seconds) i'or which the line is cut outt'rom its usual workthat is, in which the spring-actuated contactdrum completes its revolution, so that the current takes the following course: battery (j ot Fig. 2, binding-post 12, standard and contactdisk r, and contactdrum C, successively over the springs fj", and thence over the bindingposts 1 to 10, and the different line views, as indicated by until the current arrives at the arbor W, Fig. 4, ot' the iirst district-clock, which may be at any desired distance. There it passes over the contact-spring t, which is at this moment over insulated contact r, from which the current passes to the electro-pneumatic relay, (shown in Fig. 3,)

where it excites the electromagnets M M, passing through a binding-post either to the earth or through a second line-wire to one or more of the remaining district-clocks, where the same operation just described takes place nearly simultaneously. As soon as the contact-drum C ot' the distributer has completed its revolution its former position is restored and the contactspring s passes from the small insulated plate p onto .the metal ring. As this also takes place simultaneously in all the remaining district-clocks, the line is taken up but for a very short period. As the operation described is accomplished automatically, it may be arranged to take place in the midnight hours, so as not to interrupt the regular work ofthe telegraph or other lines, or interfere in any way with the lines made use of i'or the purposes of this time-keeping system. By the entrance of the current into the elcctropneumatic relay, Figs. 3 and 3, the electro-magnets M Mattract the armature c, which is suspended from a standard in front oi' magnet M. The upper part ot' armature e branches into a fork. Vthen the armature hangs in its natural position with no current passing through the magnet, the arm of the fork ot lever e farthest from magnet M supports the arm of a lever, D, pivoted at its other end to an upright, D. To the center ot' lever D is'attached the rod I ot' cylinder l?. Pivoted to upright D is a bell-crank, one arm of which consists ot' a weighted lever, E, the other arm ot which, E', is T-shaped, having pins 1 and 2, between which lies lever f of the three-way cock F, their relation being such that when the weighted arm IIS E of the bell-crank is thrown into the position shown by dotted lines, Fig. 3, Sheet'2, arm E' rises, pin 2 engagesV with arm f, lifts it and opens'cock F. rlhis is eected automatically by a pin, c', on the end of lever D, which works iu a slotted arm, c, forming partof and rigidly attached to the weighted lever E and T-shaped arm E,freeing the bell-crank, so that when the armature e releases lever D by rocking its forked arm from under it, lever D, in its fall, carries with it arm o, throws lever E into the dotted position,and opens cock F, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and thereby the compressed air from the air-reservoir is admitted instantly through the-pipe e to the pipe e2, and thence to the cylinder G of the district-clock, Fig. 4, where it lifts the regulating-forkj'l and engages the regulating-pin g, so as to carry it exactly into vertical position. rlhe cock is closed and the weighted arm E returned to its full-line position by the admission of air into piston I. The other arm ot' the fork-armature limits the fall of the lever D. The districtclock is thus regulated electrically from the normal clock by the circuit passingr through the distributcrand piieumatically from the relay, which is in turn operated by the electric current sent from the district-clock to it. The district-clock, Fig. 4f", continues to move independently, but drops at certain fixed intervals of time the lever S by the cam-wheel x and fork H, the dropping ofthe lever S reversing the cock A by means ot' the weighted lever S, whose operation is in all ways similar to the Aver S into its former position.

similarly-lettered parts of thc normal clock, lever S being dropped by cam and droppingfork H, (see Fig. 4, Sheet 2,) so that the compressed air can pass from the air-reservoir and tube h to ht, and thence to the cylinder L of the tliree-way cock N, Figs. 5 and 5i". The aireylinder L raises the lever i, the compressed air passing then from the air-reservoir and tube j into the tube 7:, which connects with tube It leading to the secondary clocks, the air accomplishing the work of winding up and regulating the saine. From the tube lc passes a branch tube, 7c', to the air-cylinder 0, Figs. 4 and 4, for the purpose of returning the le- In a similar manner the lever D in Figs. 3 and, 3e is returned into its former position by compressed air supplied to the cylinder Pby'tube c3.

In the normal clock shown in Figs. l and l, which also performs the function of a districtclock forits immediate neighborhood, the droplever S is returned into its former position by the air-cylinder U, which is supplied with compressed air by the ltube a2. The compressed air, which is conducted through the branch tube k2 to the cylinder P2 of the secondary clock,Figs. Gand 6, raises the lever R, whichis pivoted at q to the same arhoras wheel Q, and carries a small spring pawl, q2, whereby the 'ratchet-wheel Q is turned round its axis and.

the clock wound up to such an extent that it is kept going until the next pneumatic impulse is imparted. Simultaneously the fork on in on the lever It is raised,wher ehy the pin o, which is applied to a small crank, o', operating the gear-wheels of the hands, is carried in-l to the proper position-that is to say, the clock is set-so that differences in the time indicated by the different clocks are rendered impossible. clock are accomplished at the same time. Pivoted to the lever R is a fork with two spreading-arms, m and m. When the fork is lifted by lever R a pin, o, on a small crank, 0', which operates the hands ofthe clock by means cfa ratchet, engages with one or the other of the two arms, and by the rising of the fork is pushed into a determinate positioii,wliichsets the hands ofthe clock at the right hour. That. position is reached when the pin on crank 0 is pushed into the crotch formed at the bottoni ofthe fork by the two arms. Crank o having reached this position, the fork m m' is caused to turn on its pivot and release pin o, so as not to interfere with the continuous running ot the clock. It is done in this wise: An arm, q", is attached to and projects from the back of the clock, and is provided at its upper end with ahook, q", which extends inwardly, so as to engage with arm m' of the fork as lever R rises. A spring, u, is attached to the bottom of arm g3, and extended up as far as the hook of arm g3, where it also is bent inwardly, forming` a catch, against which arm in of the fork is thrown in the upward inotioii ot' lever B. As lever It continues to rise, arm m', being held by spring u, pushes spring it away from the back of the clock. The fork being thus caused to turn ou its' pivot and fall away from crank o', on the return ofthe lever R to itsnorinal position the fork is again righted by the pressure ot' spring u, and is ready for the next setting of the clock. The dropping of the fork has the object to release the pin o immediately alter the clock has been set, and without interfering vin the least with the regular movement of the clock.

The correction of the normal clock is accomplished in the saine manner as that of the district-clock by an electro-pneumatic relay, but with this difference, that the relay of the normal clock receives its electrical impulses from some astronomical observatory, while the re- Thus both the winding up and set ofthe IOO lays of the district-clocks receive their img has been lifted far enough so that a collar, i, strikes a bracket-arm, k, the rod g is retained, while the rodf0 continues to move, the then rod fm" telescoping into the lower part of the rod g". This continued motion of rod f,

while it is at the same time held back by the connection of pin ho with rod go, causes the wedge-shaped end l to turn around its pivotconnection with the rod/""-that is, to drop forward so as to clear the anti-friction rollers l and Z2. To prevent the dropping ofthe wedge Zduring the upward motion ot' the rodj', a heel, 0'), of the same moves a friction-spring, y", as shown clearly in Fig. ll.

The detail figures, 7, S, and 9, show the construction of the three-way cock A ofthe normal clock. The three-way cock A has the additional way in order to remove the pressure in the cylinders when the inlowing air from the reservoir is turned off. As soon as by the dropping ot" the lever S the weighted lever S2 is carried toward the left the lever-segment 1) is moved through a certain angle without the pins c and c ot' the same acting upon the crank-arm d of the stopcock, the pin c acting only upon the crank-arm d when the weighted lever S2 has passed over the vertical position. By the return motion ot' the lever S2 for the closing ofthe stop-cock A the reversed action takes place.

Figs. 12 and 13 show details of the mechanism `for setting the district-clocks shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The fork j" j" is held by a balance-weight, q", in upright position. As soon as the rod r" is raised by the pressure of the air in the cylinder G the lever of the small balance-weight s, which lever carries a. latch, t", at its shorter arm, and is pivoted to 9'0, by reason of its weighted arm s" restingupon plate te", lifts its short arm t until stopped by' the short arm a ot' lever gf. Then rod r" has been carried up high enough short arm u of the counter-weight g" engages with the tixed stop or. This raises its longer arm q", and consequently' tilts forward the fork j", which is pivoted to 9*, and, as already said, was held upright by the counter-weight q". The fork j, being thus thrown forward, clears the pi'n at the lower end ot' the regulating-arm g of the districtcl0ck. (See Figs. 4Land12.) Shortarm a", being thus depressed by abutting against the lixed stop c, engages in the latch t" of lever s, and forkj" is thus held ont of engage` ment with regulating-arm g el" the clock until thet'alling ofthe cylinder brings lever s again horizontalen plate to", and causes its short arm 1f to release lever gp", which falls back, carrying with it fork f', which is restored to its normal position.

By the details just described the districtclocks are set and made to keep regular time with the normal clock at the central station. rlhis is accomplished at certain iixed intervals by means of the electric dist-ributer, which sends the electric impulses over the diii'ere'nt lines to the electro-pneumatic relays of the district-clocks. These relays serve to, regulate pneumaticallythedistrict-clocks. Thedistrictclocks again set at certain fixed but shorter intervals of time a three-way cock in motion, which transmitspneumaticimpulsestothe dii'- ferent secondary clocks within each district, so as to wind up the movements of these clocks and regulate the hands of the same, so that they indicate uniform time with the districtclock.

I am aware that clocks have been worked heretofore by pneumatic impulses from a central station; but actual tests have shown that a purely pneumatic system is too expensive and not adapted to work clocks at great distances from each other. Consequently this sys tem was only capable of doing work on a small limited scale. By the employment ot' electricity for regulating the normal and district clocks, and by using pneumatic impulses, not for ruiming the secondary clocks, but simply for winding them up and setting the same,my improved electro-pneumatic system has been more fully adapted to the wants ot' larger cit ies, so as to be capable of general introduction, and, after the tirst cost ot' plant has been met, et' running it with little expense, while it is possible to add continually to the number of public and private subscribers. rJhe work is performed pneumatically with greater certainty and reliability than by purely electrical means, as it is not exposed to the annoying disturbances ot' the electric systems.

Having thus described myinvention, l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In an electro-pneumatic clock system,the combination of anormal clock, au electric distributer, set pneumatically thereby, an electro-pneumatic relay actuated by the distributcr at certain intervals of time, one or more district-clocks, and means for regulating the latter so as to keep uniform time with the normal clock, substantially as set forth.

2. In an electro-pneumatic clock system, the combination ot the normal clock ot' the electric system, an intermediate electric distributer, an electro-pneumatic relay, one or more district-clocks, their switching mechanism, one or more intermediate three-way cocks actuated electrically by the district clock or clocks, and a number of secondary clocks having windingup and regulating appliances, the districtclocks being regulated electrically `from the normal clock, while the secondary clocks are wound up and regulated automatically from the districtclocks, substantially as specified.

3. In an electro-pneumatic clock system, the combination ot' the norm al clock, having pneumatic appliances actuated at ixed intervals ct time, with an electric distributer provided with means for winding up the spring-drum ot' the saine, and with means for automatically starting the spring-drum and sending electric impulses to thc district-clocks, substantially as set iorth.

i- In an electric pneumatic clock system, an electric distributer consisting of a drum, C, spring mechanism for rotating the drum, contact-springs f, and means whereby at certain intervals of time the rotating mechanism is released and the drum C allowed to rotate, so

as to send electrical impulses over the springs fand connecting-Wires, substantially as set forth.

5. In an electro-pneumatic clock system, a district-clock having a rim, u, and 'insulated contact-plate o, in combination with the radial contact-spring t, as described.

6. In an electro-pneumatic' clock system,the-

combination of the electro-magnets M, armaturee, having a fork-shaped extension-lever, D, and an air-cock,fI1, whereby the lever E is dropped andthe cock'F opened as soon as the armature is attracted by the magnets, substantially as set forth.

7. In an electro-pneumatic clock syste1n,the combination, with aclock-train of the secondaryclock, of a winding-up lever, It, and a fork-shaped piece, m m', for winding up and setting the clock, and the hook and spring, whereby, when the clock has been set, the fork is rocked out of engagement with the clock, as described.

8. In an electropneumatic clock system,the mechanism for regulating the normal clock, which consists of the vertically-movable Wedgepiece l, pivoted to the vertically-moving shaft f, mechanism for moving the sl1aftj',the arm 9, having the'pin h", connecting it to the wedgepiece l, and the collar i, engaging with collar vof the arms, so as not to interfere With the runnin g of the clock, substantially as described.

9. In an electro-pneu1natic clock system,the mechanism for regulating the clock, which consists ot' the vertically-moving rod r", the fork n pivoted thereto, the Weighted arm q u", and

weighted lever s0 t", pivoted as described, plate w, spring o, and the pin on the arbor "of the clock, whereby the forkv is rocked out of engagement with the clock after the latter is set, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as :my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses. CARL ALBERT MAYRHOFER.

Witnesses H. WINKLEY, M. MAURY. 

